The Hinsdale Lake Commons shopping center near 63rd Street and Kingery Highway in Willowbrook will undergo $9 million in exterior renovations to match facade improvements at the new Whole Foods Market site.
The market, which is taking over a former Dominick’s store, is expected to open in late August.
Willowbrook trustees approved site modifications for the shopping center’s owner, Regency Centers Corporation of Oak Brook, at a recent village board meeting.
“The shopping center’s owners thought that now would be the perfect time to pump new life into the center,” said Village Administrator Tim Halik. “They plan to spend about $9 million on the project.”
The upgrades will include improvements to the building facade in metal panels, wood siding, brick and fiber cement, parking lots, lighting, landscaping and sidewalks at the shopping center, he said. In addition, a new brick monument sign near the roadway will be constructed.
Halik said Regency Center plans to get most of the work done before Whole Foods opens. The new market will be 50,000 square feet, larger than its current location a couple of blocks away on 63rd Street.
“We opted to move to a larger store with more parking options and great location on the corner, providing easier accessibility to the store,” Whole Foods spokesperson Allison Phelps said in an email. “Once it gets a little closer to the opening of the store, we will share the cool new features of the location.”
Halik said the facade and interior of the market will give off a “downhome feel with earthy color tones.”
The store focuses on selling natural foods, such as organic fruits and vegetables, meat and prepared foods. Dominick’s closed its Chicagoland stores, which lost $35.2 million through the first nine months of 2013.
Ruzich is a freelance reporter.